The Government received over 16,000 submissions on its climate change consultation.

99.5% of those were calling for

REAL CLIMATE ACTION.

Here are just some of the voices that have been ignored. Click to read more and share

Caritas

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is the Catholic agency for justice, peace and development.

Caritas wants to see New Zealand be a bold leader and help protect the world’s poorest peoples, including our neighbours in the Pacific Islands.They are concerned that New Zealand will continue with a ‘business-as usual’ model - one that takes the minimal steps required of us, whilst expecting large scale change from others.

Christchurch City Council

Christchurch City Council wants to see New Zealand fully committed to keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius and to see us create targets that are fair and consistent with climate change science.They are concerned about the lack of education in our communities regarding the potential impacts of climate change, and the recent investments being made in large-scale roading projects, oil exploration, and coal companies.

CCC's submission advocated for an unconditional target of 40% reduction by 2030 from our 1990 baseline, and a conditional target of 50% reduction by 2030 from our 1990 baseline.

Enspiral

Enspiral is a Wellington-born network of over 200 entrepreneurs building social enterprises.

Enspiral wants Aotearoa New Zealand to be a world leader on climate change mitigation and demonstrate innovative, achievable pathways to zero emissions. They are concerned about how long it is taking for the world to take appropriate action and the lack of leadership being displayed.

Enspiral's submission pointed out that New Zealand is an island nation heavily reliant on exports and tourism - and so needs to build strong relationships with international partners. They advocated for a cross-party, cross-demographic, cross-region, cross-sector consensus on the target date for zero emissions, and for initiatives to be incentivised to make this happen.

FIRST Union

FIRST is a private sector union with 27,000 members across multiple sectors including finance, textile, clothing, baking, wood, retail, transport and logistics.

FIRST Union wants to see a just transition to a low-carbon economy, in which workers' access to decent jobs, wages and working conditions are protected.They are concerned that in the new environment climate change will lead to, ensuring the protection of workers' rights may be a difficult - that without appropriate planning these transitions may leave large numbers of workers unemployed, placing immense strain on state budgets and social order.

First Union's submission advocated for a minimum target of a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Professor Grant Guilford (Vice-Chancellor, Victoria University)

Professor Guilford wants to see New Zealand set an ambitious target that encourages other countries to be similarly ambitious.He is concerned that without a strong negotiating position that helps rapidly decarbonise the world economy and accelerate the world-wide transition to net zero carbon economy by 2100 we will face catastrophic consequences.

Greater Wellington Regional Council

The Greater Wellington Regional Council wants to see New Zealand set a target that is fair and consistent with climate change science.They are concerned about the lack of detail on how to move New Zealand onto a pathway towards a low carbon economy. They are also concerned about the strong emphasis on the costs and challenges of setting an emissions target and the lack of focus on the benefits, opportunities and costs of inaction.

GWRC's submission advocated for an unconditional target of 40% reduction by 2030 from our 1990 baseline and a conditional target of 50% reduction by 2030 from our 1990 baseline.

Insurance Council of New Zealand

The Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) represents the interests of New Zealand’s general insurers. Its members provide cover for about $600 billion of New Zealand’s assets.

ICNZ wants to see New Zealand transition to a low carbon future in a way that means we are contributing our fair share internationally. They want to make sure insurance remains available and accessible to all, and are concerned that if the risks associated with climate change become too high, insurers may decide to either not accept the risk, or to price it so fewer people can afford it and that if mitigation and adaptation measures to address climate change are not taken globally, large aggregates of people and property will be at risk.

Climate Change Iwi Leadership Group

The Climate Change Iwi Leadership Group is mandated by Iwi and Māori land owners to engage with government in a collaborative manner on climate change issues.

The Group wants to see New Zealand move towards an ambitious emissions reduction target of a similar nature to those recently announced by the US, China and Europe.They are concerned about the disproportionately high impact both climate change effects and emissions reduction measures will have on the Māori population.

Their submission notes that for New Zealand to achieve the Government's current longer-term 2050 goal, the goal for 2030 would need to be at least the top of the range for the conditional 2020 target (20%) and that by 2040 New Zealand would need a 35% reduction.

Landcare Research

Landcare Research is one of seven Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) in New Zealand. Its core purpose, set by the Crown, is to ‘drive innovation in the management of terrestrial biodiversity and land resources’.

Landcare Research wants New Zealand to set meaningful, science-based emissions reductions targets to support global efforts. As a biologically-based economy, New Zealand is expected to face major impacts from climate change. Their submission recommended reducing national emissions by 30–40% below 1990 levels by 2030.

Moana Ola Pasifika Public Health Network

Moana Ola Pasifika Public Health Network wants to see New Zealand prioritise the health of Pacific peoples, Māori and all vulnerable groups in setting and meeting its national climate change commitments.

They are concerned about Pacific peoples, Māori, and vulnerable populations suffering disproportionate health and social impacts from climate change. They also recognise that there are many potential co-benefits for health and equity through action to reduce emissions. Their submission advocated for an emissions reduction target of at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, and a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

National Council of Women New Zealand

The National Council of Women New Zealand (NCWNZ) is an umbrella group representing 288 organisations affiliated at either the national level or to one of its 21 branches. Its function is to promote the interests of New Zealand women through research, discussion and action.

NCWNZ wants to see New Zealand be a world leader in setting ambitious goals for lowering emissions.They are concerned about New Zealand (and the rest of the world) undergoing more of the floods, landslips, heat waves, droughts and wind storms that are becoming increasingly frequent.

Their submission advocated for putting a cap on the expansion of the coal and gas extraction industries, as well as the dairy industry.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation

NZNO is the leading professional nursing association and union for nurses in Aotearoa New Zealand. It represents over 46,000 nurses, midwives, students, kaimahi hauora and health workers.

NZNO wants to see New Zealand make firm commitments to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions in order to prevent the negative health impacts of climate change, and to do so urgently.They are concerned about the negative impact of inaction on the health of New Zealanders, especially those already disadvantaged in terms of health access and outcomes.

NZNO's submission advocated for an emissions reduction target of 95% below 1990 levels by 2050, and urged the government to make health an integral part of its decision-making process on climate change actions and targets.

New Zealand Medical Students Association

New Zealand Medical Students Association represents close to 2,000 medical students located in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

NZMA wants to see New Zealand set targets that will have meaningful effects to change our current path towards serious negative impacts on our climate, environment and the future health of New Zealand.They are concerned about the potential health consequences of not taking action on climate change, including increases in infectious diseases; respiratory and cardiovascular conditions; the health effects of inadequate access to fresh water; and impacts on our health system as a result of population migration from other countries. They believe taking action will have major health co-benefits for New Zealand.

Oxfam New Zealand

Oxfam is an international development agency working with the poorest communities around the world. Oxfam NZ works primarily with communities in Pacific Island countries – some of those worst affected by climate change.

Oxfam NZ wants to see New Zealand put forward a new commitment in accordance with our responsibilities as a relatively wealthy, developed country, and reflects the scale of the global challenge. They are concerned about climate change jeopardising hard-won development gains, the fight against poverty and hunger, and the negative impact that climate change is having on GDP growth in Pacific Small Island Developing States.

Oxfam NZ's submission advocated for a target that is in line with a global carbon budget aimed at limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and a domestic emissions reductions target that is no less than 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.

Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

The Presbyterian Church is part of the wider family of Christian churches and the third largest denomination in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand wants to see New Zealand support ambitious climate commitments for reasons of social equity, justice for those most affected, and care for our environment.They are concerned that the Government is focusing on 'what's best for us' and not considering the impact on our neighbours.

Alongside its concern for the world's most vulnerable nations, the Presbyterian Church has strong relationships with our Pacific neighbours and is concerned about the loss of their island homes. Their submission advocated for an emissions reduction target of at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2025, as well as an immediate moratorium on fossil fuel exploration and a rapid phase-out of existing extraction and industry subsidies.

Pure Advantage

Pure Advantage is a not-for-profit lead by successful Kiwi businesspeople who want a greener, wealthier future for all of New Zealand.

Pure Advantage wants to see New Zealand take a leadership position in the global shift to green growth. They are concerned that the Government identifies emissions reduction as a risk to the agricultural sector and so will propose to do the bare minimum required.

Pure Advantage views the need to reduce agricultural emissions as an opportunity, not a risk and also sees opportunities in the areas of AgriTech, BioDiversity, BioProducts, Housing, Renewable Energy, Smart Grid, and Waste to Value initiatives. Their submission states that based on science we should commit to emissions reduction well beyond our current target. For example, action could entail 50% below 1990 levels by 2030 and an aim to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. It also mentions the importance of creating a concise plan for how New Zealand intends to reduce emissions.

Royal Society of New Zealand

The Royal Society of New Zealand is an independent statutory organisation that promotes and advances science, technology and the humanities in New Zealand. It is made up of New Zealand's top scientists and scholars.

The Society wants to see New Zealand contribute effectively to the global effort to avoid dangerous climate change. They state that the government's current proposed long-term target of a 50% emissions reduction below 1990 levels by 2050 is in stark contrast with the targets of industrialised countries like the US, Europe and Japan and that this is inconsistent with the goals of contributing fairly to a global agreement on climate change and maintaining our "clean and green" image.

The Society's submission also emphasised that urgent action is required now to avoid significant and long-lasting changes to the environment.They advocated for a target of around 40% below 1990 gross emission levels by 2030, and a longer-term global goal of zero emissions by around 2070 or earlier.

Sustainable Business Council

The Sustainable Business Council is an executive-led group of companies that advocates a better way of doing business to create a sustainable future for New Zealand. SBC has 79 members, including many of New Zealand's largest businesses across a wide range of industries.

SBC wants to see collaboration between business and government, in order to come up with a shared understanding for what a low carbon economy looks like, a clear plan for the transition, and the first steps underway.They are concerned that inaction would leave New Zealand exposed as other economies and business models transition to a low carbon future.

The Sustainable Business Council's submission advocated for:

Fuel and energy efficiency measures

Support for new technologies like electric vehicles

Long-term policy certainty so that biofuel initiatives can thrive

Research into areas like improved nitrogen management and reduced n-leaching

UNICEF New Zealand

UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child.

UNICEF New Zealand wants to see our country honour the promises we have made to support vulnerable countries in responding to a changing climate.They are concerned that children - especially the most disadvantaged - are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and that climate change threatens to wipe out decades of hard-earned progress achieved by communities, governments and development partners.

UNICEF New Zealand's submission advocated for championing the rights of children in the climate negotiations, supporting a mechanism at the international level for regular reviews of global carbon cutting targets, and a long term goal for carbon neutrality by 2050.

Z Energy

Z Energy is a New Zealand-owned fuel retailer.

Z Energy supports the Government taking a bold, ambitious, and flexible stance to this year's United Nations climate conference in Paris.The company is concerned that treating the challenge of climate change solely as an economic cost runs the risk of ignoring the benefits of investment in low-carbon alternatives, which would set New Zealand up for a lower-emissions future, and avoid facing the ongoing cost of rising emissions.

Z Energy's submission argued that New Zealand could match the EU's pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 40% by 2030, and called for a clear national strategy.